Regulator for water-heating systems.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

B. HUMPHREY.

REGULATOR FOR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28.1908.

Z 314mm 42/; fikwmy -15 wn" cum UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT HUMPHREY, OF COAL RUN, OHIO.

REGULATOR FOR WATER-HEATING SYSTEMS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Coal Run, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Regulator for l/Vater-Heating Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Water heating systems and has a specialreference to regulators for the same.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved mercury sealregulator for water heating systems wherein the expanding water will beforced through the mercury seal but the contracting water allowed freepassage and not to be required to pass through said seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means formaintaining the water level at substantially uniform height so that thepressure throughout the system is maintained substantially uniform.

The invention consists primarily in a trap having a mercury seal and anautomatic valve arranged to close when the water is expanded and openwhen the water is contracted, together with a means for automaticallysupplying water to the system to maintain a substantially uniform level.

The invention further consists in such novel arrangement of details andcombinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a vertical section through aregulator con-- structed in accordance with this invention.

The invention consists of an outer casing 10 wherein is mounted an innerchamber 11, the same being held in spaced relation to the walls of theouter casing. Communication is afforded between the inner chamber andthe outer casing at the bottom and preferably by means of a plurality ofopenings 12 in the bottom of the chamber 11. An inlet pipe 13 isconnected to the heating system and extends through the outer casing andinto the inner chamber. An outlet passage 14 is formed at the upper endof the chamber 11 and is a secondmeans of communication between theinner chamber and the chamber formed by the outer casing. A valve seat15 is formed within the chamber 11 at the inner end of the pipe 1 1. Ahollow ball 16 is held within the casing 11 and is adapted to rise andclose the passage 14 when the casing 11 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 28, 1908. Serial No. 429,642.

Patented July 14, 1908.

becomes filled with water. Mercury is held at the lower portion of thedevice as indicated at 17 to form a seal between the inner chamber andthe chamber formed by the outer casing.

The upper end of the casing 10 is provided with an outlet pipe 18 whichleads to an expansion chamber 19. A cold water supply pipe 20 isconnected to any suitable source of cold water supply and is providedWith a ball valve 21 arranged to open when the water level lowers beyonda certain point and close when it rises above that point. An overfiowconnection 22'is formed at the upper end of the expansion chamber andmay be connected to a waste pipe not deemed necessary here to be shown.

At the upper end of the inlet pipe 13 is formed a screen 23 which notonly prevents refuse of any sort finding its way into the hot waterheating system, but also prevents the ball 16 from sealing the end ofthe pipe 13 under conditions in which the water level is sufficientlylow to permit the ball to rest thereon.

In the operation of the device let it be assumed that the system is coldand the water level is that indicated in the drawing. As the water isheated the expansion will force the water into the chamber 11 and willthus displace the mercury in that chamber. As the water continues toexpand it passes out of the openings 12 and bubbles up through themercury into the chamber formed by the outer casing. This will, ofcourse, raise the Water level in the expansion chamber 19 but inasmuchas this device occupies a relatively small portion of the height of anysystem to which it is intended to be attached, the change in level inthe system will not be sufficiently great to substantially affect thepressure in the system. If the water expands suffi ciently it will flowout of the pipe 22 and into the waste pipe. Suppose now that the wateris cooling off and contracting. The first effect that this will havewill be to restore the mercury seal to a common level both in and out ofthe chamber 11. Next, the mercury seal outside of the chamber will bedepressed somewhat until such a time as the ball 16 is slightly freedfrom the seat 15. The water will then pass down through the passage 14and chamber 11 into the pipe 13. Meanwhile the water level in theexpansion chamber 19 will be lowered and if the contraction is continuedsufficiently long, the valve 21 to prevent the shutting off of thecontracting water from the pipe 18, as is indicated with a dotted lineposition of the ball l6. It will thus be seen that the contracting waterhas free passage through the opening 14 and pipe 13'while expandingwater is forced through the mercury seal.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is z 1, In aregulator for water heating systems, an outer casing, an inner chambersupported in spaced relation to said outer casing and freelycommunicating at the bottom therewith, and provided with a valved outletopening, a mercury seal between the bottom of said casing and chamber,an inlet pipe communicating with said inner chamber, and an outlet ipeleading from said chamber, saicll pipe emg disposed above said liquidsea 2. In a regulator for water heating systems, an outer casing, aninner chamber supported in spaced relation to said outer casing andfreely communicating at the bottom therewith, and provided with anoutlet opening, a valve arranged to close said outlet opening duringexpansion of water held in said regulator and open said outlet openingduring contraction of said water, a mercury seal between the bottoms ofsaid casings and chamber, an inlet pipe communicating with said innerchamber, and an outlet pipe leading from said casing, said pipe beingdisposed above said mercury seal.

3. In a regulator for water heating sys-, tems, an outer casing, aninner chamber sup ported in spaced relation to said outer casing andfreely communicating at the bottom therewith, and provided with anoutlet opening, a ball valve seat formed at the inner end of said outlet0 ening, a ball valve floatably mounted in said chamber and arranged toclose said outlet opening during the expansion of water contained insaid system and to open the same during the contraction of said water, amercury seal between the bottoms of said casing and chamber, an inletpipe com- .municating with said inner chamber, and an outlet pipeleading from said casing, said pipe being disposed above said liquidseal.

4. In a regulator for water heating systems, an outer casing, an innerchamber supported in spaced relation to said outer casing and freelycommunicating at the bottom therewith, and provided with a valved outletopening, a liquid seal between the bottoms of and freely communicatingat. the bottom therewith, and provided with a valved outlet opening, amercury seal between the bottoms of said casing andchamber, an inletpipe communicating with said inner chamber. provided with an endextending above said mercury seal, an outlet pipe leading from saidcasin above said mercury seal, an expansion c amber connected to saidoutlet pipe, a cold Water supply pipe leading to said expansion chamber,and a ball valve held in said expansion chamber arranged to open saidipe when the water level is loweredbeyon a predetermined point and closethe same when the water level is'above said point.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BERT HUMPHREY.

Witnesses: RALPH STARLING, MINNIE H. STARLING.

